Reptile feeder

ABSTRACT

A feeding apparatus for use within a terrarium for feeding insects such as crickets to reptiles and/or other animals in the terrarium. The apparatus consists of a structure having a chamber in which the insects can move about, a cover that provides access to the chamber for introducing insects and powder supplements to the chamber, and a small port and manually removable port plug for enabling the insects to exit the chamber to the terrarium when the plug is removed. The structure and cover may create the image of a simulated rock. The feeding apparatus has a substantially flat surface for maintaining the rock structure in a stable position in the terrarium. Also disclosed is a method for feeding reptiles insects comprising the steps of pouring a vitamin powder supplement into a container with insects, closing the container, gently shaking the container to coat the insects with the powder, placing the container in a terrarium, and uncovering at least one opening in the container for insects to exit the container into the terrarium.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to terrariums and in particular to feedingreptiles and amphibians within a terrarium. Many products arecommercially available for this purpose but there is a need for feedingapparatus that maintains the natural habitat of a terrarium environment.The prior art fails to provide a reptile or amphibian feeder thatsimulates the natural feeding behavior of such animals, and it fails toprovide a means and method by which a supplement powder such as vitaminpowder can be conveniently added to the feed without excessive waste andmess.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0002] The reptile feeder of the present invention is preferably in theform of a structure that occurs in an animal's natural habitat, such asa rock, mound of earth, tree stump, etc. In the embodiment shown by wayof example, the feeder is a simulated rock. The rock is divided into amain hollow body part and a cover. The hollow body serves as a chamberfor introducing insects such as crickets and vitamin supplement powderinto a terrarium. The insects are coated with the powder by gentlyshaking the closed simulated rock. An exit port is provided in the rockto allow the insects to exit the chamber, and a plug is included toclose the chamber when the insects and powder are mixed together and thefeeder is placed in the terrarium. The plug is removed after the feederis placed in the terrarium to allow the insects to leave the chamber andenter the terrarium proper where they may be consumed by the animals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0003] The accompanying drawings, are not intended to be drawn to scale.In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that isillustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. Forpurposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in everydrawing.

[0004] The objects, advantages and features of this invention will bemore clearly appreciated from the following detailed description, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0005]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the open reptile and amphibianfeeder;

[0006]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the feeder in a terrarium with aninsect exiting through the insect port of the reptile feeder;

[0007]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the closed feeder with the insectplug in the insect port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0008]10—feeding apparatus

[0009]20—feeder body

[0010]22—insect port

[0011]24—insect plug

[0012]26—filling opening

[0013]28—feeder chamber

[0014]40—feeder lid

[0015]42—raised lip

[0016]60—insect

[0017]62—terrarium

[0018]64—supplement powder

[0019] This invention is not limited in its application to the detailsof construction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carriedout in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” “having,” “containing”,or “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass theitems listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additionalitems. In the following description the device is sometimes called“reptile feeder” or defined as used for feeding that animal, but itshould be understood that these terms do not limit the application ofthe invention to that specific animal.

[0020] The reptile and amphibian feeder is a feeding device that holdsinsects, primarily for use within a terrarium 62. In particular, thefeeder is used with a vitamin supplement powder 64. Shown in FIG. 1, thefeeder provides a method for easily incorporating a vitamin supplementpowder with a live food source, minimizing excess powder use and mess.The live food source, usually insects, is gently mixed with thesupplement powder within the feeder, until the insects are lightlycoated with the powder. FIG. 2 shows the feeder in place inside theterrarium 62, and also shows an insect slowly exiting the device intothe terrarium 62 for consumption by the reptiles or other animals in it.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the reptile feeder 10 includes afeeder body 20 and a feeder lid 40 that define a chamber 28 and whenaligned, properly register with one another to close the chamber. Theshape of the reptile feeder can be of any desirable configuration, suchas a rock, mound of earth, tree stump, etc. The preferred embodimentshown is a simulated rock. The rock design adds to the decor of theterrarium and it also maintains the look of the natural surrounding inthe terrarium. The feeder 10 is preferably made of polyresin.

[0022] Shown in FIG. 3, the feeder body 20 includes an insect port 22and a corresponding insect plug 24. The port 22 can be located anywhereon the feeder body 20 and provides an exit for the insects from thechamber 28. In a preferred embodiment, the insects are crickets. Theinsect plug 24 is inserted into the insect port 22 whenever it isdesired to retain the feeder contents in the feeder chamber. The feederbody 20 also has a filling opening 26 that is closed by the feeder lid40. The opening 26 is used to introduce insects and vitamin supplementpowder into the reptile chamber 28.

[0023] When the feeder chamber 28 is filled with the desired amount ofinsects and supplement powder, the feeder lid 40 is used to close thefilling opening 26. A raised lip 42 located on the feeder lid 40 assistsin aligning the lid and body 20 and also prevents the feeder body 20from sliding off the lid 40. When the port 22 and openings 26 areclosed, the reptile feeder is gently shaken to thoroughly coat theinsects with the supplement powder.

[0024] The reptile feeder 10 full of insects coated with the supplementpowder is placed in the terrarium 62. The plug 24 is then removed,allowing the insects to exit the reptile feeder into the terrarium. Thereptile or other animal within the terrarium may then eat the coatedinsects, consuming the beneficial vitamin supplement powder as well.

[0025] The reptile feeder is advantageous because it provides an easyway for causing reptiles and amphibians to obtain valuable supplements.Alternative methods of feeding reptiles and amphibians a powdersupplement are messy, and large portions of excess powder are wasted.However, with the present invention, excess powder that is left withinthe chamber 28 can be reused because it is retained within the feederand it does not come into contact with anything outside of the feedingrock that may contaminate it. The feeder also prevents the growth ofdangerous bacteria that can form on objects within the terrarium if avitamin residue remains. This is especially dangerous in humid terrariumconditions.

[0026] An additional benefit of this invention is that it simulates thenatural feeding behavior of reptiles and amphibians. Because the insectsare contained within the feeder, the reptile or amphibian must waituntil the insects exit it, through the insect port 22. The animal isstill required to hunt the insect in the terrarium. Thus despite thefact that the reptile or amphibian is confined to a domesticatedenvironment in the terrarium, natural feeding behavior still prevails.

[0027] The reptile feeder provides a method and apparatus for feeding areptile or amphibian live insects that carry a vitamin supplementpowder. It provides a method for reducing the amount of supplementpowder waste, and it reduces the mess associated with powdersupplements, all the while simulating the animal's natural feedingbehavior.

[0028] Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodimentof this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations,modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled inthe art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intendedto be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spiritand scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description anddrawings are by way of example only, and the scope of the claims shouldbe determined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A feeding apparatus for use within a terrariumfor feeding insects such as crickets to reptiles and/or other animals inthe terrarium comprising a structure having a chamber in which theinsects may move about, a cover forming part of the structure providingaccess to the chamber for introducing insects and powder supplements tothe chamber, a small port and a manually removable port plug in thestructure for enabling insects in the chamber to exit the chamber to thebody of the terrarium.
 2. A feeding apparatus as described in claim 1wherein the structure is a weight and size for enabling one to readilygently shake the structure to coat the insects in the chamber with thesupplements.
 3. A feeding apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein thestructure is simulated rock.
 4. A feeding apparatus as described inclaim 3 wherein the structure and cover together create an image of asingle rock.
 5. A feeding apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein therock has a major portion that defines the majority of the chamber and asmaller portion that defines the cover of the chamber, the major portionhas an open face for accessing the chamber, and said cover mates withthe open face for closing the chamber and when removed therefrom enablesinsects and supplements to be introduced into the chamber.
 6. A feedingapparatus as described in claim 5 wherein the port is in the majorportion of the rock.
 7. A feeding apparatus as described in claim 6wherein the simulated rock has a substantially flat surface formaintaining the rock in a stable position in the terrarium.
 8. A methodof feeding reptiles insects comprising the steps of pouring a powderinto a container; placing insects into the container; closing thecontainer so that it is free of all openings; gently shaking thecontainer for coating the insects with the powder while in thecontainer; placing the container into a terrarium; and uncovering atleast one opening in the container for insects to exit the containers tothe terrarium chamber.
 9. A method according to claim 8, wherein thepowder is a vitamin supplement.
 10. A method as described in claim 9wherein the container is a simulated hollow rock.
 11. A method offeeding insects such as crickets to animals such as reptiles andamphibians in a terrarium comprising the steps of providing a simulatedrock having a first and second portion and wherein the two portionstogether define a closed chamber in the rock, said simulated rock havinga port and a removable plug for closing the port, separating the twoportions to open the chamber and introducing insects and a powdersupplement into the chamber, assembling the two portions of the rock andthen gently shaking the rock to coat the insects with the powder, andplacing the assembled rock in a terrarium and removing the plug forenabling the coated insects to crawl out of the chamber into theterrarium.